Container for pasty or semi-liquid products

ABSTRACT

A container for pasty or semi-liquid products of substantially tubular shape and extending along a longitudinal axis. The container includes: a first longitudinal end which is closed and flattened; an opposite second longitudinal end including an opening and a dispensing element; a first side wall and a second side wall, opposite each other and interposed between the first longitudinal end and the second longitudinal end. The container includes, at the first side wall and second side wall, a plurality of first lines of weakness which are transverse to the longitudinal axis and which define a plurality of corresponding zones; the first lines of weakness are such that the zones of the first side wall and of the second side wall are selectively squeezable, in twos, towards each other and progressively from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end, defining corresponding stable configurations for the zones.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a container for pasty or semi-liquid products,preferably made of a multilayer material having a paper component and atleast one other component consisting of heat-sealable plastic material.

The product contained may, for example, be a food product (for example,tomato paste, mustard or other condiments) or any of a variety of otherproducts (for example, toothpaste, shoe polish).

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, it is common practice to package products of this kind incontainers of substantially tubular shape, closed at one end andprovided, at the other end, with a dispensing element which has a capassociated with it.

These containers, whose contents are extracted by manually squeezing thetube to cause the product contained to be discharged through thedispensing element, are usually made of plastic or metal and making themis a relatively complex and expensive process.

Furthermore, in many cases, when the product is dispensed, the productdischarged is replaced by air which is sucked in and finds its way tothe closed end of the container. If the product inside the container isquickly perishable, the presence of air inside the containers is likelyto trigger the process which spoils the remaining product.

When a container of this kind for pasty or semi-liquid products is madeof flexible plastic material, it is impossible to remove the air presentinside the container after some of the contents have been dischargedbecause the flexibility prevents lasting deformation capable ofpermanently displacing the air.

Moreover, it is often impossible to extract all the product from thecontainer.

If the container in question is made of thin aluminium sheeting, on theother hand, the closed end of the container can be rolled up: thisoperation is, however, relatively impractical and unsatisfactory.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,065,898 discloses a container made of a deformablematerial such as aluminium foil and provided with a plurality of linesof weakness transverse to its longitudinal axis. These lines of weaknessdivide the first side wall into zones which can be pressed selectivelyin pairs towards each other in such a way as to squeeze the pastyproduct out of the container. These transverse lines of weakness areuseful for the set purpose but are not well suited to guarantee accuratedispensing of precise doses of the product.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The aim of this invention is to overcome the above mentioneddisadvantages.

This aim is achieved by proposing a container for pasty or semi-liquidproducts according to the accompanying claims.

Advantageously, the container proposed by the invention allowsdischarging all the product from it, as well as discharging the airwhile the product is being dispensed. Consequently, product wastage andspoilage are avoided.

Moreover, the container of this invention is simple and inexpensive tomake compared to prior art solutions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described below with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate two non-limiting embodiments of it and inwhich:

FIG. 1 represents a blank which can be used to make a first embodimentof the container of this invention;

FIGS. 2 to 7 illustrate a container obtained using the blank of FIG. 1during different steps in its production and use;

FIG. 8 illustrates a blank which can be used to make a second embodimentof the container according this invention; and

FIGS. 9 to 12 illustrate a container obtained using the blank of FIG. 8during different steps in its production.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Illustrated in FIGS. 2-7 and 9-12 is a container 2, 19 for pasty orsemi-liquid products which has a substantially tubular shape and extendsalong a longitudinal axis A.

The container 2, 19 comprises a first longitudinal end 50 which isclosed and flattened and a second longitudinal end 51, opposite to thefirst longitudinal end 50 and comprising an opening 14 and a dispensingelement 15.

The container 2, 19 also comprises a first side wall 60 and a secondside wall 61, opposite each other and interposed between the firstlongitudinal end 50 and the second longitudinal end 51.

More specifically, the container 2 comprises, at the first side wall 60and second side wall 61, a plurality of first lines of weakness 5, 5′,5″, 5′″ which are transverse to the longitudinal axis A and which definea plurality of corresponding zones 7, 8, 10, 11 on the first side wall60 and second side wall 61; the first lines of weakness 5, 5′, 5″, 5′″are such that the zones (7, 8, 10, 11) of the first and second sidewalls 60 and 61 are selectively squeezable, in twos, towards each otherand progressively from the first longitudinal end 50 to the secondlongitudinal end 51, defining corresponding stable configurations forthe zones 7, 8, 10, 11.

The opening 14 is, obviously, located at the dispensing element 15 toallow the product to be dispensed.

Squeezing the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 (that is, their compression towardseach other) causes the product to be discharged through the opening 14at the dispensing element 15.

By “stable configurations” of the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 is meant that oncesqueezed towards each other, the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 remain in theposition determined by the squeezing action. That means, in other words,that the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 of the first side wall 60 and of the secondwall 61 each have two stable configurations: a first configuration,defined before they are squeezed towards each other, and a secondconfiguration, defined after they have been squeezed towards each other.

The term “lines of weakness” is used to denote lines along which thematerial the article (in this case, the container) is made of isweakened in order to facilitate bending the material to make it adopt apredetermined configuration.

Advantageously, the fact that the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 are squeezableselectively in twos towards each other and progressively from the firstlongitudinal end 50 to the second longitudinal end 51, adopting a stableconfiguration after being squeezed, allows the product to be optimallydispensed from the container while at the same discharging the air frominside the container.

Consequently, product wastage and spoilage are avoided.

Preferably, the zones of the first side wall 60 are aligned with thezones of the side wall 61: that is to say, each zone of the first sidewall 60 is opposite to a corresponding zone of the second side wall 61.

The dispensing element 15 may be provided with a cap 16. The cap 16 may,for example, be screwable to the rest of the dispensing element 15.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lateral edges of thefirst side wall 60 are directly connected to the lateral edges of thesecond side wall 61. For example, the lateral edges of the first sidewall 60 are directly connected to the lateral edges of the second sidewall 61 by a seal (as will become clearer as this descriptioncontinues). Advantageously, this specification prevents“concertina-like” folds (that is, portions flattened along thelongitudinal direction of extension of the container), which might blockthe discharge of air and product when the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 arecompressed.

Preferably, when the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 are squeezed, the first sidewall 60 and the second side wall 61 are in contact with each other. Inthat case, product and air can be completely discharged from thecontainer.

Preferably, at the first side wall 60 and second side wall 61, thecontainer 2, 19 comprises a plurality of second lines of weakness 3, 9,11 a, 20 transverse to the first lines of weakness 5, 5′, 5″, 5′″ of thecontainer 2; 19. These second lines of weakness 3, 9, 11 a, 20facilitate squeezing (that is, compression) of the zones 7, 8, 10, 11.

For example, the second lines of weakness 3, 9, 11 a are perpendicularto the first lines of weakness 5, 5′, 5″, 5′″. Alternatively, the secondlines of weakness 20 are oblique to the first lines of weakness 5, 5′,5″, 5′″.

In the preferred embodiment, the zones 7, 8, 10, 11 define sections ofthe container corresponding to predetermined doses of product. Thus, thecontainer 2, 19 can advantageously be used to dispense precise doses ofproduct, thereby avoiding undesirable wastage.

For example, the quantity corresponding to the predetermined doses ofproduct may be indicated on the first side wall 60 and/or on the secondside wall 61 of the container 2, 19, for example by means of a printedscale in millilitres.

For example, the second longitudinal end 51 is preferably quadrilateral(square or rectangular) in shape, as in the case illustrated.

Preferably, the container 2, 19 is made from a blank 1, 18 of sheetmaterial, as described in detail below (illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 1, 2, 8).

Preferably, the sheet material is defined by a plurality of superposedlayers. For example, the material is a multilayer material having apaper component and at least one other component consisting ofheat-sealable plastic material.

With reference to FIG. 1, the blank 1 from which the container 2 can bemade is rectangular in shape.

The blank 1, viewed with its longitudinal dimension disposed verticallyin FIG. 1, has two longitudinal lines of weakness 3 juxtaposed withrespective vertical edges 4 of the blank 1 itself, and a plurality oftransverse lines of weakness, generically denoted by the referencenumeral 5, which connect the vertical edges 4 to each other. The top andbottom transverse lines 5 of the blank 1 are juxtaposed with respectivehorizontal edges 6 of the blank 1 itself.

The two bottom transverse lines of weakness 5 and the vertical edges 4together define a rectangular zone or panel 7 and, similarly, the twotop transverse lines of weakness 5 and the vertical edges 4 togetherdefine a rectangular zone or panel 8.

Between the transverse lines 5 which respectively delimit the top of thepanel 7 and the bottom of the panel 8, the blank 1 comprises a pluralityof transverse lines of weakness 5 equispaced from each other in pairs.There are nine of these lines 5 in FIG. 1 (this number should not beconsidered binding). The transverse line of weakness vertically half wayup in FIG. 1 is labelled 5′, whilst the two transverse lines 5 adjacentto the line 5′ and positioned, relative to the line 5′, on the side ofthe transverse line 5 which delimits the top of the panel 7 and on theside of the transverse line 5 which delimits the bottom of the panel 8are labelled 5″ and 5′″, respectively.

Between the transverse lines 5 which respectively delimit the top of thepanel 7 and the bottom of the panel 8, the blank 1 also comprises twolines of weakness 9 parallel to the longitudinal lines of weakness 3 andeach juxtaposed with one of these lines of weakness 3 and situatedbetween the lines of weakness 3 themselves. Each line of weakness 9 isspaced from the line of weakness 3 juxtaposed therewith by a stretchhaving (for example) a length which is substantially equal to thedistance between two mutually juxtaposed transverse lines of weakness 5,so that each line of weakness 3, the line of weakness 9 juxtaposedtherewith and the transverse lines of weakness 5 which intersect thelines 3 and 9 themselves together define a plurality of substantiallysquare zones or panels 10 whose perimeters are defined by lines ofweakness formed in the surface of the blank 1.

From the median regions of the transverse lines 5 which respectivelydelimit the top of the panel 7 and the bottom of the panel 8 thereextend two further lines of weakness 11 a parallel to the longitudinallines of weakness 3 and stretching as far as the transverse lines 5″ and5′″, respectively.

The lines of weakness 11 a are spaced from the lines of weakness 3juxtaposed therewith by stretches having (for example) a length which issubstantially equal to the distance between two mutually juxtaposedtransverse lines of weakness 5, so that each line of weakness 11 a, theline of weakness 3 juxtaposed therewith and the transverse lines ofweakness 5 which intersect the lines 3 and 11 a themselves togetherdefine a plurality of substantially square zones or panels 11 whoseperimeters are defined by lines of weakness formed in the surface of theblank 1.

Each of the panels 10 and 11 has a diagonal 12 defined by a line ofweakness.

In the two panels 10 which each have one side defined by a portion ofthe transverse line 5′″ and the opposite side defined by a portion ofthe transverse line 5′, the diagonals 12 have one end located at a pointof intersection between the transverse line 5′″ itself and the line ofweakness 9, and the other end located on the line of weakness 3; and inthe two panels 10 which each have one side defined by a portion of thetransverse line 5″ and the opposite side defined by a portion of thetransverse line 5′, the diagonals 12 have one end located at a point ofintersection between the transverse line 5″ itself and the line ofweakness 9, and the other end located on the line of weakness 3.

At each of the points of intersection of one longitudinal line ofweakness 3 with one between the top and bottom transverse lines ofweakness 5 of the blank 1 there are located respective ends of arcuatelines of weakness 13, the other end of each of which coincides with anendpoint of the longitudinal line of weakness 9 located in proximity tothe line 3 itself. The concavity of each arcuate line 13 faces towardsthe longitudinal line 3 on which one end of the arcuate line 13 itselflies.

In a central region of the blank 1, straddling the line of weakness 5′,the blank 1 itself may comprise a circular region 14 intended to form ahole. For example, at this circular region 14, a dispensing element 15may be fixed which is provided with a cap 16 that is screwable to therest of the dispensing element 15 and provided with suitable teeth (notillustrated). The teeth on the cap 16 are used to make the hole in thecircular region 14 when the cap 16 is unscrewed for the first time (thatis, the first time the container is opened). This circular region 14 isdesigned to guarantee the asepticity of the products, especially of foodproducts.

With reference to FIGS. 2-4, the container 2 is constructed from a blank1 by folding the blank 1 through 180° about the transverse line 5′ insuch a way that the portions of the blank 1 extending between the line5′ and respective horizontal edges 6 of the blank 1 are positioned faceto face (FIG. 2).

Preferably, according to an embodiment of the container described above,the edges of the blank 1 on the outside of the lines of weakness 3 andof the top and bottom transverse lines 5 are subjected to heat andcompression by means of a customary sealing device not illustrated inorder to form sealed regions around the upper and lateral portions ofthe folded blank 1. In other words, this forms the seal between thelateral edges of the first side wall 60 and the lateral edges of thesecond side wall 61, according to the previously described embodiment ofthe container.

The portion of the blank 1 included between the transverse lines 5″ and5′″ and the lines of weakness 9 and made up of two superposedrectangular panels P separated by the transverse line 5′ is thus laidout flat, whilst the lateral portions of the blank 1 folded in themanner described above are folded in known manner as shown in FIG. 3. Inthis situation, the container 2 being formed has two substantiallytriangular wings 17 at the bottom of it which protrude axially from thebody of the container 2 being formed.

Next, the wings 17 are folded about the respective portions of line 9which partly delimit them through 180° and flat against respectiveflanks of the container 2 being formed (FIG. 4) and then sealed or gluedto the flanks themselves.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, after the container 2 has been used to dispensethe product inside the container 2 itself through the dispensing element15, the container 2 can be acted upon to also prevent or at leastappreciably reduce the presence of air in contact with the productremaining inside it.

This action consists in manually compressing the container 2 under themutually sealed horizontal edges 6 of the blank 1 along a directionperpendicular to the large faces of the container 2 itself in such a wayas to press together first the panels 7 and 8 (FIG. 5).

Continuing to empty the container 2 can be done by continuing tocompress the zones of it further away from the panels 7 and 8 (FIGS. 6and 7) in such a way as to successively press together zones of theblank 1 included between pairs of mutually adjacent transverse lines 5located in zones corresponding to the opposite large side walls of thecontainer 2.

It should be noted that the transverse lines of weakness 5 have thefunction of weakening the container 2 in predetermined zones and, thanksto their shape, allow controlling the squeezing action applied to it. Ifnecessary, the folding lines of weakness 5, 9, 11 a, 12, 13 which definethe selectively and progressively squeezable zones 7, 8, 10, 11 maydefine predetermined or residual doses of product; preferably thesedoses are indicated on the container 2, 19 (for example by means of aprinted scale in millilitres).

Further, the lines of weakness defining the diagonals 12 and the linesof weakness (forming part of the lines 5, 3, 9 and 11 a) which delimitthe panels 10 and 11 have the function of weakening the large side wallsof the container 2 to make it easier to squeeze and manipulate. Ineffect, thanks to these lines of weakness, it is possible to dischargeall of the content without damaging the container 2 because its rigidityis locally reduced by the lines of weakness themselves which, besides,also give it an aesthetically more pleasing appearance than a containerwithout such lines of weakness would have.

FIG. 8 shows a blank 18 constituting a variant of the blank 1 and usableto make a container 19 illustrated in FIGS. 9-12. The container 19constitutes a variant of the container 2 made from the variant 18 of theblank.

In the blank 18, whose description uses, where possible, the samereference numerals as those used to describe the blank 1, the arcuatelines 13 of the blank 2 and the portions of the longitudinal lines ofweakness 9 included, respectively, between the panels 7, 8 and thetransverse lines of weakness 5″ and 5′″ are substituted by four straightlines of weakness 20, each extending between a respective point ofintersection between a vertical edge 4 and a horizontal edge 6 and thecorner nearest that point on one of the rectangular panels P.

Owing to the presence and shape of the lines of weakness 20, the panels10 and 11 of the blank 18 have a different shape from the substantiallysquare shape of the panels 10 and 11 of the blank 1, and more precisely,they have the shape of right-angled trapeziums.

Generally speaking, the lines of weakness 3, 9, 11 a, 20 are transverseto the lines of weakness 5, 5′, 5″, 5′″ of the containers 2, 19 in whichthey are formed. More specifically, in the blank 1, the lines ofweakness 3, 9, 11 a are perpendicular to the lines of weakness 5, 5′,5″, 5′″, whereas in the blank 18, the lines of weakness 20 are obliqueto the lines of weakness 5, 5′, 5″, 5′″.

The blank 18 is used to make the container 19, illustrated in FIGS. 9-12during different steps in its production.

The container 19 is assembled in the same way as described above withreference to the container 2 and it is used in the same way as thecontainer 2.

The shape of the large walls of the container 19, and the shape of thecontainer 19 as a whole, is much like an isosceles trapezium.

The second longitudinal end 51 of the container 19 is preferablyquadrilateral (square or rectangular) in shape.

From what is set out in the foregoing, it is evident that the containers2 and 19 described above do not suffer from the previously mentioneddisadvantages of the prior art.

Once their contents have been discharged completely, the containers 2and 19 are substantially flattened, without folded or rolled up sectionsperpendicular to their longitudinal direction of extension.

Moreover, the containers 2 and 19 described allow their contents to besqueezed out progressively and emptied completely and convenientlywithout allowing air to enter and/or stagnate inside them.

The possibility of squeezing the contents out easily and completely isparticularly useful when the containers 2, 19 contain a product thatwould not otherwise be discharged—for example, thick tomato paste,ketchup or mayonnaise.

Furthermore, providing the containers 2 and 19 with dispensing elements15 and caps 16 of suitable shape makes it possible to keep thecontainers 2 and 19 in what is usually known as the “top down” position.

1. A container for pasty or semi-liquid products, having a substantiallytubular shape and extending along a longitudinal axis, the containercomprising: a first longitudinal end which is closed and flattened; asecond longitudinal end, opposite to the first longitudinal end andcomprising an opening and a dispensing element; a first side wall and asecond side wall, opposite each other and interposed between the firstlongitudinal end and the second longitudinal end; wherein it comprises,at the first side wall and second side wall, a plurality of first linesof weakness which are transverse to the longitudinal axis and whichdefine a plurality of corresponding zones on the first side wall andsecond side wall; the first lines of weakness being such that the zonesare selectively squeezable, in twos, towards each other andprogressively from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinalend, defining corresponding stable configurations for the zones; andthere being also provided, at the first side wall and second side wall,a plurality of second lines of weakness transverse to the first lines ofweakness of the container.
 2. The container according to claim 1,wherein the lateral edges of the first side wall are directly connectedto the lateral edges of the second side wall.
 3. The container accordingto claim 2, wherein the lateral edges of the first side wall are sealedto the lateral edges of the second side wall.
 4. The container accordingto claim 3, wherein the second lines of weakness are perpendicular tothe first lines of weakness.
 5. The container according to claim 3,wherein the second lines of weakness are oblique to the first lines ofweakness.
 6. The container according to claim 1, wherein the zonesdefine sections of the container corresponding to predetermined doses ofthe product inside the container.
 7. The container according to claim 6,wherein the quantity corresponding to the predetermined doses of productis shown on the first side wall and/or on the second side wall of thecontainer, for example by means of a printed scale in millilitres. 8.The container according to claim 1, wherein it is made from a blank ofsheet material.
 9. The container according to claim 8, wherein the sheetmaterial is defined by a plurality of superposed layers.